w9zeb:
My very first batch is 38 hours into fermentation, and on the suggestion of folks here I'm starting to plan my second batch. I like Hefeweizen beers quite a bit, and found our LHBS has a recipe kit for one http://www.austinhomebrew.com/product_info.php?cPath=178_452_42_163&products_id=318

I'm wondering if anyone here can suggest other options that might be better for a new brewer like myself? Also I'd really like to experiment with adding vanilla bean to the Hefeweizen (which I guess technically makes it a wheat beer, and no longer a Hefeweizen.) but I'm not sure how much vanilla bean I should add, or at what point in the brewing process.

Any advice is welcome. I'm pretty sure I'll be brewing this one several times to get it right, but starting off with something other than a hot mess would be great!

Thanks for all the help so far!

garc_mall:
I think that a Vanilla Bean would be a good compliment to a Hefeweizen. The benefit of a vanilla bean (and most flavor additives) is that you can taste the beer once it is done, and determine whether the flavor works how it is, or if you want to add something.

If you choose to add a vanilla bean, I would recommend following Denny's plan that he uses for his Bourbon Vanilla Imperial Porter. Take 1 bean, scrape out the insides into the fermenter, and then add the bean itself. I am pretty sure Denny does this in primary, but I am sure he will clarify it for me. I would let it go about a week. At day 5 or so, I would start pulling a sample and tasting until the beer tastes where you think it should. Then go ahead and bottle.

You have inspired me for next year to try to do an Oatmeal stout with Weizen yeast, and then add Cinammon and Vanilla (and probably some burbon) for a holiday beer. Liquid Christmas cookies.

denny:
Marc, I pretty much always rack to a secondary to do that. Probably no real reason to other than that's the way I've always done it. You know what they say about old dogs....

w9zeb:
Thanks guys! Once my primary is freed up, and batch 1 is in bottles I'm going to get to work.

garc_mall:

--- Quote from: denny on January 17, 2013, 11:22:22 AM ---Marc, I pretty much always rack to a secondary to do that. Probably no real reason to other than that's the way I've always done it. You know what they say about old dogs....

--- End quote ---

I thought you might have gone to secondary, but then I said to myself, "Denny is too pragmatic, He probably just does it in primary like everything else." ;D